COVID-19 coronavirus info for Albertans

In some ways, COVID-19 is similar to influenza (also known as the flu):

• Both COVID-19 and the flu cause respiratory disease in people who get sick.
• Both are spread the same way, via small droplets from the nose and mouth.
• Neither one is spread through the air over long distances and times, unlike a disease like the measles.

However, there are some key differences between COVID-19 and the flu:

• COVID-19 does not appear to transmit as efficiently as influenza. Only those with symptoms seem to be mainly spreading the disease. This means that when people with symptoms are isolated, controlling spread is possible.
• We currently have no specific vaccine or treatment for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 causes severe disease in a higher percentage of cases than seasonal influenza. Estimates of mortality in COVID-19 cases depend on many things, but on average they range from about 1-2 deaths per 100 people infected. By comparison, seasonal influenza is deadly in about 1 in every 1000 who are infected.
• Because COVID-19 can cause such a serious illness, it is critical to keep it from spreading by having people with a cough or fever stay home and away from others.

Find more information on symptoms of COVID-19.

At this time, it appears COVID-19 is transmitted through person-to-person spread by:

• larger droplets, like from a cough or sneeze
• touching contaminated objects or surfaces, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Studies suggest that the virus generally only lasts a few hours on a surface, though it may be possible for it to last several days under ideal conditions.

While there is person-to-person spread, current evidence indicates it is not airborne through long distances or times. There is no evidence that it's capable of being transmitted by imported goods.

Symptoms for COVID-19 are similar to those for influenza or other respiratory illnesses. The most common symptoms include:

• fever
• cough
• extreme tiredness

Most people (about 80%) recover from this disease without needing special treatment.

However, it can cause serious illness. Those who are older, and those with other medical problems are more likely to develop serious illness, which can include:

• difficulty breathing
• pneumonia

There is a risk of death in severe cases.

While we are still learning about how COVID-19 affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.

For now, there is no specific vaccine for COVID-19.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers in many different countries are now working to develop a vaccine.

Supportive care has been used in treatment of patients with COVID-19 and some medications are being tested to see if they can help patients with severe disease.

Consult Health Link 811 or your health care provider if you're:

• concerned about your health, or
• feeling ill and recently travelled to China or another affected area

It’s important to remember that the risk for Albertans is still considered low at this time. Public health measures are in place to quickly identify potential COVID-19 cases and prevent the infection from spreading.

Prevent the spread

Influenza and other common viruses remain the most likely cause of a respiratory infection.

To protect yourself and others:

• use good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing
• cover coughs and sneezes
• avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill
• contact your primary health provider or Health Link 811 if you have questions or concerns about your health

Wearing medical masks

Masks can be very important in certain situations. When sick, wearing a mask helps prevent us from passing illnesses on to other people. This is why we ask people who have a cough or respiratory symptoms to wear a mask and wash their hands when visiting an emergency department or clinic.

• If you are sick, wearing a mask helps prevent passing the illness on to other people.
• If you are healthy, medical masks are not recommended as they don't provide full protection and can create a false sense of security.
• See appropriate infection prevention and control precautions for health-care settings.

For Albertans looking to prepare for COVID-19, Alberta public health officials are recommending the following:

• Create a household plan of action. This can include these elements:
  • Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan.
  • Meet with household members, other relatives, and friends to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.
  • Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications. This includes practical steps like ensuring you have sufficient medication and determining what supplies are needed, and if they can be delivered.
  • Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning.
  • Create a list of local organizations that you and your household can contact in the event you need access to information, health care services, support, and resources.
  • Create an emergency contact list.
• Practice good personal health habits and plan for home-based actions:
  • Practice everyday preventive actions, like those listed in the prevention section.
  • Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy. Identify a separate bathroom for the sick person to use, if possible. Plan to clean these rooms, as needed, when someone is sick.
• Be prepared if your child’s school or childcare facility is temporarily dismissed
• Plan for potential changes at your workplace.
  • Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan.
  • Ask about what sick-leave policies and telework options are available if needed.
• Stockpiling of goods is not recommended at this time. While it’s always best practice to have three days worth of supplies on-hand, we are not recommending Albertans purchase food or other materials in bulk.
• Resources:
  • Building an emergency kit

As a precautionary measure, people returning from outside Canada should follow the monitoring and self-isolation steps below.

Returning travellers should not visit emergency departments or urgent care centres for testing of COVID-19. Calling Health Link 811 is the best way to get quick assessment and testing, if needed.

Monitor for symptoms

Returning from outside of Canada

Anyone returning from outside of Canada, should follow these steps:

• monitor yourself for symptoms such as cough or fever for 14 days
• self-isolate yourself and call Health Link 811 for instructions on follow-up testing if you:
  • feel ill after returning and/or experience symptoms
  • were in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
  • were in a health-care facility in an affected country

Self-isolate

Returning from Grand Princess Cruise, Iran or Hubei province, China

If you have returned from the following locations, isolate yourself until 14 days have passed since that trip, even if you are feeling well:

• Grand Princess cruise ship
• Iran
• Hubei province, China

You can isolate yourself by following these self-isolation guidelines:

• avoid close contact with other people, especially those with chronic conditions, a compromised immune system, or seniors
• do not attend work, school, social events or any other public gatherings
• watch for symptoms like fever, cough or difficulty breathing in yourself or a family member
• call Health Link 811 for instructions if any symptoms begin

Departing travellers

If you are planning travel outside of Canada, consult the:

• Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Health Advisories page
• World Health Organization's bulletins for updated travel advice

The most important ways to prevent and control respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, in facilities with seniors and other vulnerable groups are:

• Anyone who is sick with fever or cough should not visit loved ones in hospitals, long-term care or other supported living accommodations.
• People in these locations are at the highest risk of complications from both influenza and COVID-19, as well as other respiratory viruses.
• Anyone who is feeling well and not showing symptoms can continue to visit their loved ones in these homes.
• All health-care workers returning from travelling should be assessed by their own Occupational Health Services or AHS Public Health before returning to work (regardless of whether or not they have symptoms).

Alberta public health officials are recommending the following actions as a precaution:

• If a student has visited a Grand Princess Cruise, Iran or China’s Hubei province in the last 14 days, it is recommended that they self-isolate until two weeks have passed since that visit. This is recommended even if they are feeling well.
• Parents should call Health Link 811 for additional precautions and follow-up testing if their children have travelled to anywhere outside of Canada and experienced any of the following:
  • contact with someone who was suspected or confirmed to have the novel coronavirus
  • were in a health-care facility
  • have symptoms, such as cough or fever

If a student does not meet the exposure criteria above, they do not need to stay away from school and they will likely not be tested for COVID-19 as they do not meet the testing criteria. Therefore, requesting that the student provide a physician’s note is not appropriate. For health-related questions or concerns, please call Health Link at 811.

Self-isolation is a precautionary measure and does not mean that the individual is infected with COVID-19. In the event that testing determines an individual is a presumptive or confirmed case, public health officials will immediately connect with any close contacts believed to be at risk. In schools where some students have been identified as close contacts, Alberta Health has not recommended other students be kept home. Health officials will already be ensuring that all appropriate precautions are being taken.

• Albert Health memo to school superintendents - March 3, 2020 (PDF, 48K B)
• Alberta Health memo to parents - March 3, 2020 (PDF, 51 KB)
• Public Health Agency of Canada guidance for schools

Alberta public health officials are recommending the following actions as a precaution:

• If employees have visited a Grand Princess Cruise, Iran or China’s Hubei province in the last 14 days, it is recommended they isolate themselves until two weeks have passed since that visit. This is recommended even if they are feeling well.
• Employees should self-isolate and call Health Link 811 for additional precautions and follow-up testing if they have travelled to anywhere outside of Canada and experienced any of the following:
  • contact with someone who was suspected or confirmed to have the novel coronavirus
  • were in a health-care facility
  • have symptoms, such as cough or fever

If an employee does not meet the exposure criteria above, they do not need to stay away from work, and do not need any testing or a physician’s note to attend work.

If an employee is asked to self-isolate:

• Employees and employers should work together to explore alternate working arrangements. This could include:
  • Working from home or remotely
  • Doing work that does not require the employee to contact other people in the community or at work.
• If an alternate working arrangement is not possible, employees can use paid sick time if their employer offers this.
• Employees may also be able to use five days of sick time without risk of losing their job with the personal and family responsibility leave, but this time is unpaid.
• Employers should consider their business continuity plans, and think about how the possibility of COVID-19 could impact their workplace. In order to prepare, we recommend plans are made to protect employees, limit spread in workplaces, and ensure continuity of critical services if staff are ill or self-isolating.

Resources:

• Respiratory viruses and the workplace: OHS information for employers, supervisors and workers
• Business continuity planning

Alberta and other provinces are providing advice based on the best current evidence and guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

General public health recommendations in communities if COVID-19 spreads in Canada are available on the Government of Canada website.

If hosting an upcoming event or conference, consider the following:

• Mass gatherings can contribute to the transmission of respiratory pathogens, such as COVID-19.
• Since mass gathering events are generally unique, the advice varies regarding which measures should be undertaken.
• Currently there are no formal restrictions on mass gatherings. Each community or event organizer should undertake a risk assessment to determine what makes sense for them.
• Decisions regarding mass gatherings can be considered on a continuum, including
  • no changes,
  • enhanced communication to attendees,
  • risk mitigation strategies being employed without cancelling the event (such as distancing measures and making hand hygiene supplies available),
  • postponement or cancellation of the event.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada has posted a risk assessment tool.

If helping local organizations plan for a COVID-19 outbreak, consider the following:

• Business continuity planning is vitally important to prepare critical operations for any potential interruption.
• Field officers from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency are available to support municipalities, First Nations and Metis.

Settlements with their emergency management and business continuity planning.

To support the health system, communities should:

• Promote 811 as a source of information and to refer those with health-related concerns.
• Promote Alberta Labour’s “Respiratory Viruses and the Workplace” for workplace guidance.
• Review existing business continuity plans to assess if disruptions from staff absenteeism have been considered, especially for critical operations.
• Stay informed about the situation in Alberta via the Alberta Health Services or Alberta Health COVID-19 websites.

Resources

• Respiratory viruses and the workplace: OHS information for employers, supervisors and workers
• Business continuity planning